Table or the like having its top supported by spaced pedestals each comprising a horizontally elongated base and a pair of vertical columns



Mmm

Aug. 2, 1960 A. c. HovEN ETAL 2,947,586

TABLE OR THE LIKE HAVING ITS TOP SUPFORTED BY SPACED PEDESTALS EACH COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED BASE AND A PAIR OF VERTICAL COLUMNS Filed May 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIHII Al-fred C'. Hoen QQ Waler E. Nordmat'i l y lz ATTORNEY 2,947,586 PACED D E T A SG N mm EW D M.. EYU TLL mdo LPTC PNL AUOA SZC T IT. EPRT mmR N E ESAV VHGF o No I Hmsm IIA .VRP CAP HMA O AECD HHN LMA EE H A TS LB RA OT S 0mm BE wmp l 2 g Au 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18. 1955 la A ATTORNEY United States Patent O TABLE R` THE LIKE HAVING ITS TOP SUP- PORTED BY SPACED PEDESTALS EACH COM- PRISING A HORIZGNTALLY ELONGATED BASE AND A PAIR 0F VERTICAL COLUMNS Alfred C. Hoven and Walter E. Nordmark, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New ersey t Filed May 18, 1955, Ser. No. 509,183

8 Claims. (Cl. 311-39) The present invention relates to tables and more particularly to tables or desks primarily intended for use in classrooms.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a table the supporting structure of which is fabricated of metal parts to form a sturdy and durable, but economical unit, and to provide such a table in which the table top structure may be adjusted to selected elevation.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown 'in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective View of a table constructed in accordance with the invention;

.Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, Vertical sectional view of parts of the table, the section being taken on lines 2 2 of Figures 1 and 4;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View of the same taken on lines 3 3 of Figures 2 and 4;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View of the same `taken on `lines i4 4 of Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view ofparts of the table, taken on line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view of parts ofthe same taken on line 6 6 of Figure 5;

" Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the same ftaken on line 7 7 Aof Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the same;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the same take on line 9 9 of Figure 7; and

Figure l0 is a vertical `sectional view of the same taken on line 10 10 of Figure 7.

Referring now in detail to these drawings wherein like parts are designated by the 4same numerals in the several formed of sheet metal to provide spaced, verticallydisposed side walls 13 tapering from the center outwardly and downwardly and provided with mutually inwardly extending peripheral flanges, there being center top anges 14, side top flanges 15, end flanges 16 and bottom flanges 17. f

The. side walls 13 of each pedestal base have. in their .middle regions oppositely outwardly. embossed concavi- ,ties 18 forming therebetween apair of vertical, upwardly opening`, cylindrical sockets in which are seated, and secured as by welding 19, the lower ends of a'pair of vertically disposed tubular metal columns 20. 'Ihe side walls 13 have in their opposite end regions oppositely l outwardly embossed concavities 21 forming therebetween a pair of vertical downwardly opening cylindrical sockets in which are seated, and secured as by welding 22, a pair of cylindrically formed inserts 23 the outermost segments of which are cut away to form voids 24.

Glides 25 are mounted in all of the inserts 23. Each glide has a stem portion 26 with a collar 27 thereon for supporting a stop ring 28 and a lock washer 29 which are secured to the collar 27 by riveting over at 30 the upper end of the stern 26. The lock washer 29 prevents removal of the glide after its assembly to the insert 23.

Sections of trim molding 31 are clamped between the top flanges 14 of the bases side walls 13 and between the side and end anges 15, 16 thus finishing the pedestal base and providing a protective foot rest.

Referring now to Figures l through 4, the table top structure 11 here shown comprises a sheet metal box having a bottom 32, a front wall 33 and side walls 34, and anges 35 extending outwardly from the upper edges of said walls 33 and 34. A wood top 36 is secured as by means of wood screws 37 to the top of the box, which screws 37 pass through the flanges 35 and. into the wood top 36. It will be understood that the table top structure here shown is but one example of the many types of top structure which might be mounted on `the supporting pedestals 12.

A pair of brackets 38 are secured as by welding 39 to the inside of the side walls 34 at opposite sides of the box and said brackets 38 may also have top anges 40 extending outwardly between the wood top 36 and flanges 35 and secured thereto as by means of a wood screw 41. These brackets 38 depend through openings 42 in the bottom 32 of the box, and each bracket 38 is provided with outwardly embossed concavities y43 which slidably embrace the outer walls of the upper end portions of the adjacent pair of columns 20. The columns 20 are of equal height and each is provided near its upper end with a series of equidistantly spaced, inwardly opening locating apertures 44, here shown as three in number, through its inner wall.

A pair of clamping members 45 is provided, each being associated with one of the brackets 3S and each being provided with inwardly embossed concavities `46 embracing the inner walls of the upper ends of the adjacent pair of columns. A bolt 47 passes through alignedapertures in each bracket 33 and the adjacent clamping member '45, the inner end of each bolt 47 being provided with a washer 43 and nut 49, and by this means the clamping members 45 may be drawn toward their adjacent brackets 3S with the columns 20 clamped therebetween for securely connecting the table top structure to the columns at selected elevation. Each bolt y47 is desirably keyed t0 the adjacent bracket by the squared portion 50 of its Vshank to facilitate loosening of the nut 49 thereon.

A pair of lugs 51 is provided at the upper end of each clamping member '45, said lugs extending outwardly and `being engageable in a selected pair of locating apertures '44 in the adjacent pair of columns 20, whereby the table top structure may be correctly located in level position at one of several selective predetermined elevations prior to the tightening of nuts 49 on the bolts 47.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a novel, sturdy and attractive table structure, and while but one specitic embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described it will be understood that numerous details thereof may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is de ned by the following claims.

We claim:

l. In a table structure: spaced, horizontally elongated pedestal bases disposed in parallelism, each base comprising complementary elongated halves providing spaced, vertically disposed side walls having mutually inwardly extending peripheral anges, said side walls having in their middle regions oppositely outwardly embossed concavities forming therebetween a pair of vertical, upwardly opening cylindrical sockets; a pair of columns having 3 their lower ends seated in the sockets of each pedestal base and extending upwardly therefrom; and a table top structure mounted on the upper ends of said pairs of columns.

2. A table structure `according to claim l characterized by having the bases fabricated of sheet metal and the columns fabricated of metal tubing and welded to the bases.

3. A table structure according to claim 1 characterized by having trim moldings clamped between the mutually inwardly extending upper and end anges of the side walls of each pedestal base.

4. A table structure according to claim 1 characterized by having the side walls of each pedestal base provided with oppositely outwardly embossed concavities in their end regions forming therebetween a pair of vertical downwardly opening cylindrical end sockets; a pair of cylindrically formed inserts secured in the downwardly opening end sockets of each pedestal base, and glides mounted in all of said inserts and depending therefrom below the pedestal bases.

5. In a table structure: spaced, horizontally elongated pedestal bases disposed in parallelism, `each base comprising complementary elongated halves formed of sheet metal to provide spaced, vertically disposed side walls having mutually inwardly extending peripheral flanges, said side walls having in their middle regions oppositely outwardly embossed concavities forming therebetween a pair of vertical, upwardly opening cylindrical sockets, and said side walls having in their opposite end regions oppositely outwardly embossed eoncavities forming therebetween a pair of vertical downwardly opening cylindrical sockets; a pair of cylindrically formed inserts disposed in the downwardly opening end sockets of each pedestal base and welded to the side Walls thereof and opening downwardly; glides mounted in all of said inserts and depending therefrom below the pedestal bases; trim moldings clamped between the mutually inwardly extending upper and end flanges of the side walls of each pedestal base; a pair of tubularv metal columns having their lower ends seated in the upwardly opening middle sockets of each pedestal base and welded to the side walls thereof and extending vertically upwardly therefrom, said columns being of equal height and each being provided near its upper end with a series of equidistantly spaced, inwardly opening apertures through its inner wall; a table top structure having a pair of brackets depending from its opposite sides each provided with outwardly embossed concavities slidably embracing the outer walls of the upper ends of a pair of said columns; a pair of clamping members associated with said brackets and each provided with inwardly embossed concavities embracing the inner walls of the upper ends of a pair of said columns and with a pair of outwardly extending lugs engaged in a pair of apertures in said pair of columns for locating the table top structure at selected elevation; a bolt passing inwardly through aligned apertures in each bracket and its adjacent clamping member; and a nut threaded on the inner end ofeach bolt.

6. In a table structure: a pair of spaced supporting pedestals each comprising a horizontally elongated base and a pair of vertical columns having their lower ends mounted on the base, said columns each having a series of equidistantly spaced, inwardly opening apertures through the inner wall thereof near said columns upper end; a table top structure having a pair of brackets secured to its opposite sides each slidably embracing the outer walls of the upper ends of a pair of said columns;

.4 a pair of clamping members each contiguous to one of said brackets and embracing the inner walls of the upper ends of the adjacent pair of columns, said clamping members each having a pair of outwardly extending lugs engaged in a pair of apertures in the adjacent pair of columns for locating the table top structure at selected elevation; a bolt passing inwardly through aligned apertures in each bracket and its adjacent clamping member; and a nut threaded in the inner end of each bolt.

7. In a table structure: a pair of spaced supporting pedestals each comprising a horizontally elongated base and a pair of vertical columns having their lower ends mounted on the base, said columns each having a series of equidistantly spaced, inwardly opening apertures through the inner wall thereof near said columns upper end; a table top structure having a pair of brackets secured to its opposite sides each slidably embracing the outer walls of the upper ends of a pair of said columns; a pair of clamping members each contiguous to one of said brackets and embracing the inner walls of the upper ends of the adjacent pair of columns, said clamping membersV each having a pair of outwardly extending lugs engaged in a pair of apertures in the adjacent pair of columns for locating the table top structure at selected elevation; and means securing the clamping members to said brackets with the columns clamped therebetween for securing the tabletop structure `at said selected elevation.

8. In a table structure: a pair o-f supporting pedestals each comprising a horizontally elongated base and a pair of vertical columns having their lower ends mounted on they base, each column having near its upper end a series of equidistantly spaced, inwardly opening apertures through the inner wall thereof; a table top structure having a pair of brackets secured to its opposite sides each slidably embracing the outer walls of the upper ends of a pair of said columns; a pair of clamping members each disposed inwardly of one of said brackets and the adjacent pair of columns and embracing the inner walls of the upper ends of said columns, and each clamping member having thereon outwardly extending lugs engageable in a pair of apertures in the `adjacent pair of columns for locating the table top structure at selected elevation; a bolt passing inwardly between each pair of columns through aligned apertures in the adjacent bracket and clamping member and having a nut threaded on its inner end, whereby the table top structure, the brackets, the clamping members and the nuts and bolts are all movable in unison to vertically adjusted positions on said columns when the nuts are loosened on the bolts, and whereby the lugs on each clamping member may be engaged in a pair of apertures in the adjacentpair-of columns and the nuts thereafter tightened on said bolts.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i i l l i 

